Chapter 43.
『Galatine (Modified)
Type: Sword
Rank: Low-Rank Noble Phantasm
Durability: 50/50
Unique Effect: All power increases when noon strikes
Description: The sword touched by the breath of Gawain, the most veteran knight among the Knights of the Round Table and the Knight of the Sun. As befits its nature, a mysterious power dwells within that increases its might when noon strikes.
-Touched by the hand of the Great Mage-』
『Arondight (Modified)
Type: Sword
Rank: Low-Rank Noble Phantasm
Durability: ∞
Unique Effect: Indestructible
Description: The sword of Lancelot, the most talented and brilliant among the Knights of the Round Table, yet who met with dishonor. This sword boasts strength that ensures it is never destroyed, but there is a possibility it may break should its bearer act against the virtues of knighthood.
-Touched by the hand of the Great Mage-』
To King Arthur’s right lay Gawain’s Galatine, and to his left lay Lancelot’s Arondight.
Though they were low-rank, and degraded replicas at that, they were clearly treasures that would cause bloodshed should they appear in the world today.
But there was a restriction here.
Golden letters written in the air, a phrase stating that only one item could be taken from the Round Table chamber.
“That won’t do.”
This was an opportunity obtained through great effort.
I moved toward the leftmost seat.
Sss, sssss!
Golden letters identical to the warning phrase were engraved above the seat.
『Knight of the Round Table No. 12, Ywain』
Knight Ywain.
The sword he wielded was the Lion Sword, possessing the unique effect of increasing strength for an instant.
I grasped the sword with a roaring lion engraved in the middle of its hilt.
And to the left.
『Knight of the Round Table No. 11, Gareth』
One of the two younger brothers of the aforementioned Gawain.
His sword, Guardian, was a blade focused more on defense than offense; its unique effect was the creation of a protective barrier that safely guarded its wielder from attacks exceeding a certain magnitude.
Holding the unique swords symbolizing the two Knights of the Round Table in both hands.
『Fusion』
I activated Fusion, an ability obtained through Trait Evolution.
Flash!
A brilliant light burst forth, signaling the success of the Fusion.
『Lion Guardian Sword (Modified)
Type: Sword
Rank: Low-Rank Noble Phantasm
Durability: 200/200
Unique Effect: Manifests the valor of a lion for an instant
Manifests a protective barrier that guards the wielder from all damage for an instant
Description: The result of fusing the Lion Sword and Guardian. Infused with both the lion’s valor and the power of protection simultaneously, it is extremely useful in both offense and defense.
-Touched by the breath of the Great Enhancer-』
The Lion Sword and Guardian combined, giving birth to a new Noble Phantasm called the Lion Guardian Sword.
That had been the plan I had been drawing up all along.
In the case of Noble Phantasms, when you attempt Fusion, the unique effects always transfer.
Ah, of course, that was only if it succeeded.
A Fusion that was merely 40% couldn’t possibly succeed every time.
No fool would squander Noble Phantasms on a mere 40% chance.
But I was different.
Through the tremendous quirk known as Extreme Luck, that probability had become 80%.
That was why I could activate Fusion with peace of mind.
Even if they were beloved swords once wielded by the Knights of the Round Table.
‘If I can only take one, I’ll just combine them all.’
The plan was extremely simple.
Fuse all the Noble Phantasms in this room, transfer their unique effects, and create a sword of mad performance bearing thirteen unique effects.
Flash!
For that purpose, I moved from seat to seat, attempting Fusion.
Though a 20% chance of failure existed, there were no failures.
Having achieved twelve successes in this manner, the Lion Guardian Sword became the ‘Sword of the Round Table,’ bearing the unique effects of the swords favored by all twelve Knights of the Round Table.
‘I’m curious about this.’
If I were to fuse even the final sword, Excalibur, just what kind of sword would be born?
Of course, there was no need to suppress that curiosity.
I simply had to execute it right now.
Flash!
I had been worried, but the Fusion succeeded safely.
But then.
Hwoaaah!
A pure, snow-white light began to burst forth, different from the brilliant golden light so far.
“…Huh?!”
Snow-white light?
It was unfamiliar, but not a phenomenon I was experiencing for the first time.
“A Combination Noble Phantasm?”
Rarely seen, but it happened from time to time.
Cases where a new item never before seen was born through the strengthening, synthesis, and fusion of Noble Phantasms.
And when such a combination formula was completed, a snow-white light seeped out as it did now.
Finally, when the light faded, the sword that appeared before my eyes was—
『Sword of the Strange Belt (Composite)
Type: Sword
Rank: High-Rank Noble Phantasm
Durability: 350/350
Unique Effect: Uses the unique abilities once wielded by the Knights of the Round Table through the ‘Gem of Abilities’ attached to the hilt
Description: The Holy Sword, also called David’s Sword or the Sword of the Strange Strap. It is decorated with an ornate hilt, and the pommel is made of colorful gems imbued with the souls of knights. A magic that prevents the user from ever tiring is cast upon the cross-shaped hilt, and the scabbard made of snakeskin has inscriptions engraved in gold and silver on the front and back.
-No one except one person may wield this sword, or rather, grasp this hilt. That one person shall surpass all others-』
“Holy shit!”
I prided myself on having gone through all sorts of hardships in the Apocalypse.
But what the hell was this?
A combination formula for fusing all the degraded replicas created by a mad mage?
‘Moreover, this is…’
It was also a Noble Phantasm I had never even once seen during my time surviving until the very end.
David?
Holy Sword?
Sword of the Strange Belt?
I could pride myself on having participated in the mainstream events of the Apocalypse, but what on earth was this?
I was bewildered.
But one certain fact remained even amidst this confusion.
‘A new route?’
What I knew before the regression wasn’t all there was to the omens or the Apocalypse.
New routes could appear at any time.
Especially since the Noble Phantasms here served more as ‘keys’ than for their abilities themselves.
‘The outcome might change.’
An opportunity that came unexpectedly.
There was no reason to hesitate.
I stowed the Sword of the Strange Belt in my backpack and moved.
What lay before me was a giant tree bursting through the center of the Round Table’s pillar.
‘There it is.’
Looking closely, within the tree’s crevice, a skeleton could be seen wedged there.
Its posture with both arms aligned and stretched forward.
I inserted Caliburn, which I had prepared beforehand, there.
In that instant.
Zing!
Blue phosphorescence flashed from the eye sockets of the skeleton shrouded in darkness.
“…I am the one-armed Bedivere. The one who stood by the King’s side the longest, and the one who guards his side.”
The giant tree was no mere tree.
It was the place where the King of Victory had fallen into eternal slumber, the sole entrance to the Lake of Light.
And guarding that entrance was the knight Bedivere, who had become a skeleton.
He was the one who had served King Arthur the longest alongside Kay, and also the very one who had thrown Excalibur into the lake to return it to Avalon.
“It is an honor to meet you. Knight of the Beginning and the End.”
It was the same everywhere; there was no harm in making a good impression on the guard.
Thus, I spoke his hidden epithet that no one knew of yet.
“…Caliburn. The key that leads to the sanctuary where the King of Victory slumbers.”
Had it worked?
Creak-crack-creak!
The tree’s crevice split open rapidly, creating a massive entrance.
“You who have proven your worth. Head toward the Lake of Light, where a great meeting awaits.”
I had received Bedivere’s acknowledgment.
“Thank you.”
Not knowing when he might change his mind, I quickly expressed my gratitude and stepped toward the entrance.
Sssshk.
How should I describe it?
A pressure that constricted the flesh?
Or perhaps it could be called tension.
At any rate, along with an alien sensation rarely experienced.
Hwaak!
A bursting, brilliant light obscured my vision.
“….”
The surroundings, which had been filled with nothing but darkness, changed.
Poro-rong, poro-rong—
A bird of unknown name chirped, and the place was filled with beautiful exotic flora.
I raised my head and looked straight ahead to see a lake shining golden, reflecting the light.
“The Lake of Light!”
The information passed on by the Sage told me that this was the Lake of Light, the entrance to Avalon where the King of Victory rested in eternal sleep.
‘Here, I need Excalibur, Caliburn, and the blood of one who inherits the King’s qualities…’
Of course, I did not currently have Excalibur in my possession.
But with the Sword of the Strange Belt created by fusing that Excalibur, and Caliburn, and finally what I had prepared.
Slosh.
A bright red liquid sloshing inside a glass bottle—William’s blood.
The final offering to open the Lake of Light and approach the King’s remains was ‘the blood of one who possesses the qualities of a king.’
Not yet, but the trait William would awaken was Sword King.
His blood possessed the requirements to become the final offering, and that was why I had been able to open the Lake of Light even before the regression.
“Now then.”
I stood before the lake.
Without hesitation, the moment I tried to throw the Sword of the Strange Belt—
Zing—
The sword—the Sword of the Strange Belt began to vibrate.
And.
Hwa-aaak!
A crimson light beam shot from the tip of the sword and touched the Lake of Light.
And along with it, the phenomenon that occurred.
Srruk, srrr-reuk!
Red lines drawn upon the lake.
Horizontal and vertical, intersecting as they were drawn—the shape was a red cross.
The lake, having formed the complete shape of a cross.
Shwaaaak!
Split open exactly in that shape, revealing the bottom.
‘…Already?’
I was genuinely surprised.
I hadn’t even offered sacrifices to Vivian, Morgan, and King Arthur.
But then why?
Why was the lake splitting?
But it was still too early to be surprised.
“Huh?”
A question burst out involuntarily.
The bottom revealed by the split lake was different from the information the Sage had known.
The handsome man with golden hair, the remains of the King of Victory, Arthur, were not there.
In that place instead was a knight armored in white plate.
An unknown being concealing flaring red energy within its helmet.
Screech.
The metal joints scraped, emitting a sharp sound.
The white knight gazed at me.
Grind!
Its head lowered, looking at the Sword of the Strange Belt held in my hand.
“…Chosen one…”
Having uttered just those words.
Crack, grind!
It began to transform its form.
It was a grotesque spectacle rather than a mysterious one.
Think about it.
The armored figure that had looked like a robust adult was crumpling at will.
“What the hell is…?!”
Even with all my experience traversing the Apocalypse, this was a bit bewildering.
But the surprise lasted only a moment.
“…What is this?”
When the grotesque transformation ended, what remained before my eyes was not the white knight, but a kite-shaped shield, a kite shield.
It was white.
No, a pure white that felt somehow divine, and in its center was engraved a red cross identical to the one drawn on the lake moments ago.
‘Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…?’
I couldn’t be certain yet.
It could merely be a shield with the same shape.
With a tense heart, I manifested the Appraiser’s Eye.
『Red Cross Shield
Type: Shield
Rank: High-Rank Noble Phantasm
Durability: 700/700
Unique Effect: Greatly increases natural regeneration
Description: A shield carved from the wooden cross upon which the Savior was hung.
Stained with the blood of a divine being, it bestows tremendous healing and regenerative power upon its wearer, granting a body akin to immortality.
-No one except the chosen one may use this shield-』
“F-finally!”
The Red Cross Shield.
I couldn’t even process the effects or anything like that.
I was on the verge of fainting from the shield’s very existence alone.
And for good reason—the Red Cross Shield was one of the combination materials I had so desperately sought, one I hadn’t even been able to catch a glimpse of before the regression.